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The Best & Worst Of The Bears’ 2013 Season

GREEN BAY, WI - NOVEMBER 04: Alshon Jeffery #17 of the Chicago Bears makes the catch and turns upfield for some more yards during the first quarter of play against the Green Bay Packers against the Chicago Bears during the game at Lambeau Field on November 04, 2013 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike McGinnis/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Alshon JefferyAlshon Jeffery (Mike McGinnis/Getty Images)

(AP)Best Game: A 45-28 victory Dec. 9 over the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field as quarterback Josh McCown led the Bears to scores on their first eight possessions . The easy victory left them 7-6 and still in the hunt for a division title.

Worst Game: A 54-11 embarrassing blowout loss at Philadelphia when the Bears could have clinched an NFC North Division title and a playoff berth on Dec. 22.

Best Play: Alshon Jeffery’s leaping 46-yard touchdown catch near the sideline against the Minnesota Vikings’ Chris Cook at the Metrodome. Jeffery had a franchise record 249 receiving yards in the loss.

Worst Play: Safety Chris Conte came up instead of staying back or locking onto Green Bay receiver Randall Cobb once Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers escaped the pocket, paving the way for a wide-open 47-yard touchdown pass with 38 seconds remaining in the season finale. The fourth-and-eight play beat the Bears and kept them out of the playoffs.

Biggest Surprise: Jeffery, who came off an injury-plagued rookie year to catch 89 passes for 1,421 yards and seven touchdowns.

Biggest Disappointment: The run defense. Hit by injuries that took out four key starters for big chunks of the season, the defense allowed a league-worst 5.3 yards per carry.

What’s Next: Sorting through a list of 27 unrestricted free agents to see who they want to keep and can afford, starting with quarterback Jay Cutler. They also have to choose if they want to stay the course with their “Tampa-2” defense established under former coach Lovie Smith or switch to another style.